30: Chapter 30 Invites Ji Guangli to Share an Apartment

The next morning.

Morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows in the room.

Cao Kun was the first to wake, his body feeling an unprecedented sense of fullness and lightness.

He shifted slightly. The Ji Guangli in his arms let out a soft murmur, nestling closer, her face wearing the tranquility of deep sleep and a hint of languid satisfaction.

Cao Kun didn't get up immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes, quietly sensing the rewards the system had brought after last night's mission completion.

A surge of powerful energy flowed through his limbs and bones. It wasn't a hollow sense of inflation, but something solid, as if every muscle and bone had been refined, brimming with explosive potential.

He tried gently clenching his fist. His joints emitted a faint yet clear cracking sound, and a confidence that he could easily crush hard objects welled up within him.

Simultaneously, various combat techniques were etched clearly and vividly in his mind.

Grappling, joint locks, fist techniques, leg techniques, even the use of some cold weapons—it all felt like an innate instinct.

He felt he could now kill an ox with a single punch.

He really wanted to find someone to test it on.

He turned his head to look at Ji Guangli's peaceful sleeping face. Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyes.

The passion and intimacy of last night, her candid words and precious offering, had softened Cao Kun's heart completely.

Carefully, he withdrew his arm from beneath her neck, careful not to disturb her. Leaning against the headboard, he quietly began planning for the future.

It wasn't until past ten in the morning that the two of them finally got up.

While washing up, Cao Kun in the mirror had sharper eyes, brimming with vigor and spirit.

Although Ji Guangli, having experienced intimacy for the first time, moved with slight discomfort, her complexion was actually better than usual. The sharpness between her brows had lessened, replaced by a soft, radiant charm.

After checking out, they got in the car and began the journey back to Zhongzhou.

The atmosphere in the car was warm and natural, as if some invisible barrier between them had completely dissolved overnight.

"Guangli," Cao Kun spoke up while driving, "after we get back, I'm planning to rent a new place. You should move in with me."

Ji Guangli was tidying her loose strands of hair. At his words, her fingers paused, and she looked at him.

Cao Kun's tone was serious, brooking no refusal: "The environment in the Urban Village is too chaotic, not safe. I'm not comfortable with you, a woman, living there, especially since you often work late."

Ji Guangli instinctively wanted to refuse; it was almost a reflex: "It's fine, I'm used to living there. It's okay."

"Don't worry about the money." Cao Kun cut her off; he knew what she was thinking.

"I'm living alone anyway, and the place would be empty otherwise. Living together, we can look out for each other, it'll be livelier, more interesting. We can even commute together."

He had originally considered having Ji Guangli move directly into his current rental, but dismissed the thought immediately.

Not only was that place ordinary, it also held lingering traces of his life with Wu Mengmeng. He found it repulsive and wanted a completely new environment.

"If you feel bad about it," seeing her still hesitating, Cao Kun switched to a lighter tone, "then just do more housework, cook for me or something, consider it rent?"

To be honest, Ji Guangli had long been fed up with the dirty, messy environment of the Urban Village and yearned for a safer, more comfortable place to live. It was just the financial pressure that had kept her suppressing this desire.

Under Cao Kun's repeated persuasion, the defenses in Ji Guangli's heart finally began to loosen.

She nodded gently: "Then... alright."

But she immediately added, with her usual independence and insistence, "But I must pay part of the rent! Otherwise, I won't go."

She didn't want to become completely dependent. Even in an intimate relationship, she hoped to maintain a degree of equality.

Cao Kun understood her personality and knew this was her bottom line. He smiled helplessly: "Alright, alright, whatever you say. I'll start looking for a place when we get back. Once we find something suitable, we can discuss it, okay?"

"Mm."

Only then did Ji Guangli seem satisfied, a faint, unconscious smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

Filled with anticipation for their future life together.

...

By the time the two returned to the company, it was already the afternoon work hours.

Just as they entered the office area, they ran into Su Hongliang, beaming with satisfaction and surrounded by several subordinates from Department One.

Su Hongliang spotted them immediately and spoke up with a sarcastic tone.

"Well, well! Manager Ji, long time no see? Heard you went to negotiate with a client? Gone for two or three days, must have been a smashing success, landed an earth-shattering big deal to come back and save Department Two from its dire straits, right?"

He deliberately raised his voice to attract the attention of the entire office area.

One of his lackeys immediately chimed in, sneering: "Brother Liang, come on, with Manager Ji personally handling it, would she come back empty-handed?"

Su Hongliang was very pleased with his subordinate's assist. Crossing his arms, he continued arrogantly, boasting, also for the benefit of all the eavesdroppers.

"But time waits for no one. Our Department One has smoothly signed two more deals these past couple of days. Not huge, but combined, they're worth about two hundred thousand!"

"Sigh, performance is like a snowball, it just keeps getting bigger. Manager Ji, looks like the outcome at the end of the month is pretty much a foregone conclusion, huh?"

He deliberately paused, his gaze sweeping maliciously over Cao Kun. "Certain people better be ready to honor the bet when the time comes—crawling like a dog, barking like a dog. I've got my phone ready for the recording, just waiting for the grand performance! All the colleagues in the company are looking forward to this good show!"

This last line was a naked threat and humiliation, deliberately making sure everyone knew about the bet, putting Ji Guangli and Cao Kun on the spot.

Hearing this, the people in Department Two showed expressions of indignation and pity, but dared not speak up under Su Hongliang's intimidating presence.

Sister Zhang looked at Ji Guangli and Cao Kun with concern.

Ji Guangli's face remained calm, as if she hadn't heard the offensive remarks, though her eyes grew a few degrees colder.

Cao Kun, on the other hand, had his hands in his pockets, wearing an almost-smiling, utterly unconcerned expression.

They had already agreed not to announce the big contract from Xuefen's company yet.

Revealing it now would certainly slap Su Hongliang in the face, but it wouldn't be satisfying enough.

They would wait until the very last day of the month, when Su Hongliang thought victory was assured and was at his most smug, to drop this bombshell. That effect would be truly devastating.

"Manager Su," Ji Guangli spoke up calmly, her tone even, "the end of the month hasn't arrived yet. It's too early to declare victory. Who will emerge victorious is still unknown."

Cao Kun also chimed in cheerfully, his tone as light as if discussing the weather: "Exactly, Manager Su, what's the hurry? Good food is worth the wait, and a good show... should be saved for the finale, right? You're so eager to pop the champagne now, be careful you end up celebrating nothing but your own loneliness. How awkward would that be?"

Their stubborn, defiant reaction only confirmed Su Hongliang's suspicion that they were just putting on a brave face.

His smugness grew. He scoffed: "Fine! I'll see how long you can keep up the tough talk! Only three or four days left. Let's see what you'll use to turn things around!"

"And don't forget to prepare your performance well! Make sure the crawl is standard and the barking is loud! Hahaha!"

Amidst the unrestrained laughter of the Department One crowd, Su Hongliang strode away, head held high like a victorious rooster.

Ji Guangli and Cao Kun exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of coldness and anticipation in each other's eyes.

"Su Hongliang, I hope in a few more days, you'll still be able to laugh like that."

...